Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Problems
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lung Problems
netwellness.org
02/23/2001 08:47AM
Question:
Can RA have an effect on the lungs? My 78 year old mother has been taking Metheltrexate for about a year. Now she has developed a cough, and her chest x-rays are abnormal. The dr. said her lungs look somewhat like the lungs of a smoker. She has never smoked. She was put on an inhaler and is still coughing. Also, please comment on a recent news story that Celebrex used in aspirin-sensitive people can cause nasal polyps and asthma. She was put on Celebrex for awhile although she has an asprin sensitivity and had previous surgery for a peptic ulcer. She does seem to having sinus problems, congestion, and pounding in her ear. She no longer takes Celebrex or Metheltrexate. We are wondering if the lung condition is permanent.HOw much of a factor is RA or the medication in contributing to these kinds of problems.
Answer:
Methotrexate causes lung disease in approximately 1 out of 100 patients who take it; the condition that you describe for your mother could well be methotrexate-related, although it is impossible to be certain. It would be best for your mother to see a rheumatologist and to start treatment with an alternative medication. She may need to be treated with corticosteroids for a while to try to reverse some of the lung problems. Most of the disease in the lungs will usually clear up, but that does not always happen. Rheumatoid arthritis, by itself, can cause lung disease, but in your mother`s case I would be concerned that it is related to the methotrexate. If your mother had allergic diseases (asthma, hives, nasal polyps) when she took aspirin, she should probably avoid all NSAIDs, including Celebrex. If the only problem that she had with aspirin was an ulcer or other gastrointestinal problem, Celebrex may well be appropriate for her to take. The allergic features that are associated with Celebrex go away within a few days after it is stopped, so I would be concerned that your mother might have a different cause for her nasal congestion and ear problems.
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